The Bacon Strip sizzles

Couple offers breakfast and lunch staples, as well as new creations in former Bill’s Lunch spot in Coplay.

(Harry Fisher)

Valley Shopping Scene

Try Bacon Crunch Toast and other pork-centric dishes at The Bacon Strip in Coplay.

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy bacon, which is basically the same thing for many people.

If you're like me, you'll eat it every way possible — topped on a burger, pizza or baked potato or wrapped around chicken, scallops and mini hot dogs.

In the Lehigh Valley, bacon has become so in vogue that entire events have been devoted to it, including Bacontopia in Bethlehem and Bacon Fest in Easton. There's even bacon on a stick at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, home of the IronPigs.

The latest proof of the pork's popularity is The Bacon Strip in Coplay.

The 57-seat restaurant, which held a soft opening March 9 at 18 N. Second St., serves an array of breakfast and lunch dishes, including many bacon-centric creations such the bacon buffalo chicken cheesesteak and The Bacon Strip wrap (includes eggs, American cheese, onions and jalapenos).

HARRY FISHER, The Morning Call

Co-owners Emily Alkhal and fiancee Ruben Santiago stand outside their new eatery,The Bacon Strip, in Coplay on Wednesday. The breakfast and lunch spot held a grand opening on May 9.

Co-owners Emily Alkhal and fiancee Ruben Santiago stand outside their new eatery,The Bacon Strip, in Coplay on Wednesday. The breakfast and lunch spot held a grand opening on May 9. (HARRY FISHER, The Morning Call)

Three types of bacon are available: round, thick-cut Canadian bacon, which is served as part of eggs Benedict and other select dishes; traditional bacon, which comes from Peters Bros. Meat Market in Lenhartsville and is cut fresh daily; and turkey bacon.

Her dream has always been to open her own restaurant and she credits her fiance and business partner, Ruben Santiago, for helping make it a reality.

"People called me crazy, but he supported me and continues to stand by me every step of the way," she said of Santiago, who serves as the restaurant's prep cook.

The Allentown couple performed minor renovations, such as repainting the walls and adding new kitchen equipment, but the booths and dining counter remain from the space's previous tenant, Bill's Lunch, which closed in 2012 after more than three decades of business.

An expansive menu, which also features meats from Milander's Meat Market in Coplay, ranges from omelets, egg platters and rotating soups to salads, angus beef burgers and hot and cold sandwiches. There's even a "Bill's Famous Dog," honoring the former eatery's owner, Bill Balliet.

Alkhal, whose background is Syrian, occasionally serves Middle Eastern specialties such as hummus and baklava (made by her mother) as well as eastern European dishes such as halupkies and haluski. Desserts from Cupcakes & s'MORE in Coplay also are offered.

The Bacon Strip, which accepts cash only, serves breakfast 6-11 a.m. and lunch 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, but if it's not busy, you can order from either menu. Info: 610-440-1722.

Another breakfast and lunch spot, George's Light Lunch, will be revived within a few months on East Third Street in south Bethlehem.

The eatery, renowned for its steak sandwiches, closed last year after more than 60 years of business on West Broad Street in Bethlehem.

Fortunately for fans, the restaurant was purchased in December by East Allen Township developers William Eaton and Joseph Pearl Jr., who plan to open a re-imagined 50-seat George's – complete with the original steak sauce and new items such as hoagies and paninis — at 129 E. Third St. The space currently houses Euro Yogurt, which is primarily a Chinese restaurant.

"The steak sandwiches were always the main appeal, and we don't plan on changing that one bit," said Pearl, noting former owner Ed Mertz will help in the beginning stages.

The business partners, whose company East Allen Construction (formerly Woodside Custom Homes) has built more than 300 homes since 1987, also purchased 119-123 E. Third St., which they also are renovating.

Those storefronts, previously occupied by a clearance center and warehouse for Martin's Furniture, will house a new 68-seat Chinese restaurant by the same owner of Euro Yogurt (at 119 E. Third St.) and possibly Martin's Furniture (at 123 E. Third St.), Pearl said.

Euro Yogurt owner James Zhang confirmed the move, saying the yet-to-be-named restaurant, which wouldn't include frozen yogurt machines, should be open in about two months while Martin's co-owner Kevin Martin said his family is still deciding if the company will relocate from its longtime home a few blocks away at 416 E. Third St.

Pearl and Eaton, who will serve as chefs at George's, also renovated the property's eight upstairs apartments, which are fully rented.

George's will join a host of other Bethlehem breakfast and lunch spots, including Billy's Downtown Diner, Blue Sky Cafe, Jumbars and The People's Kitchen.

From the revival of one legendary cheesesteak-maker to another, Vince's Famous Cheesesteaks has recently taken its business on the road, purchasing a food truck that will frequent Lehigh Valley area breweries, wineries and events.

The company, which began in the basement of Vince Cocca Sr.'s Allentown home in 1957, closed its shop at 1091 Mill Creek Road in Upper Macungie Township in September. At that time, owner Vince Cocca Jr. was hoping to open a new location in Allentown.

"We talked to a few landlords downtown, but either the spaces didn't suit what we were looking for or we weren't a right fit for the landlord," said Chris Cocca, Vince's son and the company's director of marketing and sales.

The 22-foot truck, which includes a fully equipped 16-foot kitchen, has done a few "under-the-radar gigs" to work out kinks, but it will be rolling out in full force in the coming weeks, Chris Cocca said.

Specialty steak sandwiches such as buffalo chicken, chicken Marsala and garlic mushroom will rotate and vegetarian options will be introduced, Chris Cocca said.

Vince's will continue to operate its two trailers at area festivals such as Mayfair and The Great Allentown Fair. Fans should monitor the company's social media accounts for updates on the food truck schedule. To book a private event, call 484-358-7735.

As my colleague Scott Kraus reported Wednesday, Morris Taylor and Christian Duarte, owners of Bethlehem's 1-year-old The Bayou Southern Kitchen & Bar, plan to open a yet-to-be named restaurant in August in downtown Allentown's former Federal Grill space at 536 Hamilton St.

According to Duarte, his and Taylor's vision for the space aligned with that of City Center Investment Corp., the downtown developer that owns the building.

"There's already a few upscale restaurants in downtown Allentown, so we'll be a little different — a little more approachable," he added. "That's our style — high-energy atmosphere with medium-price points and outstanding food."

The restaurant's concept has not been finalized, but Duarte hints that the cuisine will feature comfort foods that are more worldly as opposed to the 1-year-old Bayou's focus on Louisiana-style fare.

As my colleague Frank Warner reported Tuesday, a fire that began Tuesday evening in the rear patio area of the Buckeye Tavern in Lower Macungie Township chased dozens of patrons outside and destroyed the 18th century landmark.

No one was hurt and no cause has yet been determined.

Owner Terry Bender, who also operates the 1-year-old Alburtis Tavern and Lodge, said he plans to rebuild the historic restaurant.

I'll finish with an opening and closing in Northampton County.

First, Creative Learning Center of the Lehigh Valley opened its second location Monday at 1700 Sullivan Trail in Forks Township.

The new child-care facility supplements the 11-year-old location at 3421 Nightingale Drive in Palmer Township.

Owned by Tamara Hammer, the company offers care and age-appropriate activities for infants through children in fifth grade. The Montessori Method, where children develop skills at their own pace, is emphasized in a variety of fields, including language, math, science, reading, art, dramatic play and computer.

The new outpost, which features four age-specific rooms, is open 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays. Info: creativelearningcentereaston.com.

Second, Gr8soundz at 1057 Main St. in Hellertown has announced it will close on June 20 to relocate.

The nearly 2-year-old entertainment store cited "failed negotiations" on its Facebook page, and owner Jesse Cipollini is searching for a new location to buy, sell and trade vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and video games.

Updates will be posted online. Info: 610-838-1458.

Retail Watch keeps track of new store, restaurant and bank development in the Lehigh Valley. Have a question about a retail construction project, store opening or chain you'd like to see come to the area? Contact reporter Ryan Kneller at 610-820-6597 or retailwatch@mcall.com. Retail Watch appears every Sunday